Cryptography and Computer Security for Undergraduates

1
Cryptography and Computer Security for
Undergraduates

• Suzanne E. Gladfelter
• Penn State York
• sgladfelter_at_psu.edu
• www.yk.psu.edu/sg3

2
Course Overview

• Introductory course
• Team taught, multidisciplinary
• Pre-requisites
• 5th semester standing (juniors)
• Completed college algebra
• Minimal computing experience (user)

3
Course Content

• Computing is a broad field that extends beyond
  the boundaries of computer science (CC2001)
• Science, Technology Society
• www.yk.psu.edu/sg3/sts497a
• Bibliography of resources

4
Course Content

• Strong historical component
• Mathematics
• Number theory
• Relevant math as needed to discuss RSA PGP
• Computer Science
• Tie together and implement
• Historical algorithms
• Mathematics

5
Where Does This Course Fit in CS/IST
Curriculum?

• Elective
• Support course
• Fulfill general education requirements

6
How is cryptography integrated into CS/IST
curriculum?

• CS0 / IST Intro
• Programming / Algorithms
• Network security / Wireless
• Database / Mobile technologies
• Web technologies / E-commerce

7
CC2001 - Cryptography Topics

• AL9. Cryptographic algorithms elective
• Topics
• v Historical overview of cryptography
• v Private-key cryptography and the key-exchange
  problem
• v Public-key cryptography
• v Digital signatures
• Security protocols
• Applications (zero-knowledge proofs,
  authentication, and so on)

• NC3. Network security core
• Minimum core coverage time 3 hours
• Topics
• v Fundamentals of cryptography
• v Secret-key algorithms
• v Public-key algorithms
• Authentication protocols
• v Digital signatures
• v Examples

8
CC2001 Cryptography Learning Objectives

• AL9. Cryptographic algorithms elective
• Learning objectives
• v Describe efficient basic number-theoretic
  algorithms, including greatest common divisor,
  multiplicative inverse mod n, and raising to
  powers mod n.
• v Describe at least one public-key cryptosystem,
  including a necessary complexity-theoretic
  assumption for its security.

• NC3. Network security core
• Minimum core coverage time 3 hours
• Learning objectives
• v Discuss the fundamental ideas of public-key
  cryptography.
• v Describe how public-key cryptography works.
• v Distinguish between the use of private- and
  public-key algorithms.
• Summarize common authentication protocols.
• v Generate and distribute a PGP key pair and use
  the PGP package to send an encrypted e-mail
  message.
• v Summarize the capabilities and limitations of
  the means of cryptography that are conveniently
  available to the general public.

9
PSU Center of Academic Excellence for Information
Assurance Education

• http//net1.ist.psu.edu/cica/home.htm
• http//net1.ist.psu.edu/cica/